The Social Enterprise Collective Grant Includes:
For the purpose of this grant, a social enterprise is defined as a for-profit or non-profit organization that has a social and/or environmental mission and operates as a self-sustaining business selling a product and/or service. Unlike traditional businesses that focus on private profit, social enterprises are mission-locked, reinvesting in their mission.
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Grantees will be provided with one grant funded voucher from CSED to cover participation in any or all Workshops. Grantees are encouraged to participate in all Workshops and may only apply for Technical Assistance in an area of business if they have completed the corresponding Workshop – including Workshops held during the Kickoff event.
Vouchers hold no cash value and are not transferable.
Makeup sessions for organizations unable to participate in scheduled workshops are not available.
Kickoff Event and Cohort Orientation, In-Person Workshops
The Kickoff event is limited to one attendee per grantee organization, sessions may not be divided between different individuals across the two days.
Entrepreneurial Readiness
Business Plan Development
Legal Foundations for Launching Your Social Enterprise
How to Conduct a Feasibility Assessment
Best Practices in Disability Hiring for Employment Related Social Enterprises
Individual Virtual Workshops
Grantee organizations may choose to send different team members to each virtual workshop, but attendance is limited to one attendee per organization.
Business modeling for a New Social Enterprise
Branding for Social Enterprises
Marketing for Social Enterprises
Pitching Your Social Enterprise Vision
Strategic Planning
Reporting and Recording Metrics
Funding Due Diligence Preparation
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Grantees will receive grant funded vouchers from CSED to cover 1-on-1 Technical Assistance with designated Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
Grantees must have completed the specific Workshop related to the area of business they would like further Technical Assistance with.
Grantees may request transfer of voucher credits from one SME to another, all transfers must be pre-approved in writing by CSED.
For any technical assistance requested beyond the voucher amount, the grantee will be responsible for paying the SME directly. Rates are determined by SMEs.
Vouchers hold no cash value and are not transferable.
Credits must be used by February 20, 2026. For any unused voucher credits, the value will be forfeited.
Millie Chu, Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab
Grantees eligible for 8 hours of TA (equivalent to 760 voucher credits)
Shonna L. Hawkins, DeYampert & Hawkins – The DeYampert Law Company PLLC
Grantees eligible for 8 hours of TA (equivalent to 2,400 voucher credits)
Carmen Dahlberg
Grantees eligible for 8 hours of TA (equivalent to 960 voucher credits)
Gingras Global
Ongoing Funding Reporting for Social Enterprises Package (equivalent to 6,000 voucher credits)
Includes Assessment, Quarterly Reports, and CAM X Pro Analysis for assisting with evaluating key signals investors may look for
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Grantees are eligible for up to $5,275 in additional grant funding for reimbursement of expenses used to support the launch and growth of their businesses. Examples of funding use may include: website design, research & development, and equipment purchases. Funding may not be used for general operating or administrative expenses.
Grantees may submit requests for reimbursable expenses incurred between September 16, 2025 and February 20, 2026 at any time during the grant period. Funding requests will be reviewed and approved on an individual basis.
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Grantees will receive one grant funded voucher for a one-minute promotional video from Good Fruit Video.
Vouchers hold no cash value and are not transferable.
For any unused voucher, the value will be forfeited.
About Center for Social Enterprise Development
Incompass Michigan is a statewide network of comprehensive human service providers working together to develop independence and achieve inclusive communities. The mission driven businesses that comprise our membership provide services and supports for individuals with disabilities or who face other barriers that help people live, work, and play in their community.
The Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) is a statewide and state-based association of more than 32,000 members that serves the needs of Michigan’s small business community. Established in 1969, it serves entrerpeneurs in all 83 counties of Michigan.
Incompass Michigan and SBAM have partnered to secure a state investment that will foster the development of employment-related social enterprises across Michigan. While social enterprises can take many forms, employment related models offer jobs and job training for individuals who might otherwise have limited opportunities and support. These enterprises help individuals who traditionally haven’t had a strong career pathway by offering supportive work and skill-building opportunities, and providing a source of income promoting independence. As importantly, social enterprises help connect individuals to supportive services, such as childcare, and provide opportunities for leadership development and community engagement.
Our initiative leverages the extensive experience and capabilities of both SBAM and Incompass Michigan - the creativity of entrepreneurs and the private sector, together with a statewide network of human service providers - to create opportunities for more people, and meet a pressing need. We aim to empower previously disenfranchised residents, including people with disabilities, returning citizens, and individuals facing other significant barriers to employment, by creating innovative pathways to workforce integration. This goal of a more inclusive employment landscape is ambitious, and requires intentional, focused effort – as a result, we have established the Center for Social Enterprise Development, with a focus on expansion of employment-centric social enterprises. Social enterprises serve as pivotal agents of change, adeptly addressing pressing societal challenges while simultaneously fostering job creation, spurring economic advancement, and fortifying community resilience. The Center will serve employment-centric social enterprises with direct grants, technical assistance, and programming.
Through this process, employers can leverage social enterprise principles to drive positive change while achieving business success. By supporting or adopting social enterprise practices, businesses can enhance their corporate reputation, attract talent, foster innovation, and contribute meaningfully to societal well-being. Embracing social enterprise positions employers at the forefront of a movement towards sustainable and inclusive business success.